Vitriolic is not a word I would use to describe this work from the Italian band Evenoire. A bombastic opening leads us into female-fronted majesty. The female in question has an angelic voice to bring on lazy comparisons with Tristania, Within Temptation, Nightwish and others, but there’s something different about the Evenoire experience.

A chunky metal rhythm combines with eeriness and delicacy before the lady takes away to the heavens. This is “Days of the Blackbird”. To some extent this is familiar Gothic Metal territory but the combination of sounds here are magnetically intriguing and uplifting. The biggest surprise was the mediaeval flutes and melodies to be found across this album. Such is the start of “Misleading Paradise”. “Vitriol” is worth listening to for this track alone. Delicacy yields rapidly to immense but controlled power as the track ebbs and flows between emotion and power, supported by a pumping drum beat, colourful technical guitar work, flutes and those heavenly vocals.

“Misleading Paradise” is like being swept along a wave. As the lady speaks, in the background is the sound of the East. We hear and smell this again later on the melodic and catchy “Wise King”. There’s a larger than usual break between the tracks, allowing us to reflect before the drama and tension resume. Gothic flamboyance abounds in the orchestral metal music which serves as the perfect vehicle for Ms Stefanoni’s vocals. Growls, acoustic work and merry mediaeval metal mayhem are juxtaposed. In fact if I have one criticism, it is that the band mix them all up and take too much on in their extensive pursuit of new atmospheres.

I can’t say that I connected to all the songs, especially the rather dreary “Alchimia”, but there are by way of compensation many moments of sheer luxury on this album. The pumping rhythm and emotional force of “Girl by theLake” make an overpowering and irresistible combination. It’s a case of the 3 Ms: melody, majesty and moodiness. This album is always on the move. The catchy and expansive “Minstrel of Dolomites” turns into a ring-a-ring-a-roses folk pageant, always held together by equally dominant instrumentals and operatic vocals. Ms Stefanoni has a good range which helps to reinforce the uniqueness and even eccentricity which make “Vitriol” much more interesting than the average example of this genre.

Although this album fires off in different directions, and takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through mediaeval, folk, operatic, orchestral and oriental metal territory, it is still fluid. “Vitriol” is an intriguing album and is testimony to the creativity and imagination of Evenoire. There’s much to be enjoyed here.

(7 / 10 Andrew Doherty) 

www.evenoire.it